Hi Rune,
I'd split your money between cash and travellers cheques, with a credit card as a backup -- the cash in crisp 100 bills. You can use dong for everything, so just exchange a $100 bill each time you run low. ATMs can be found in most provincial capitals, and while not on every street corner, they are more commen than they used to be.

I would completely forget about Travellers Cheques as they are a pain to transact and have been overtaken by more convenient credit / debit cards.

Many establishments don't even know what they are - whereas credit cards are readily acceptable.

Bring about USD$20-40 is SMALL bills / notes so you can hit the country running as far as snacks and taxis are concerned.

There are ATM's and bank exchange desks at all international airports.

VN law requires all vendors to accept Dong (pronounced dom) - even if they push for USD$. In smaller centres jewellery stores are the best place to exchange money when the banks are closed.

Note some VN money is traditional paper, many are newer 'polymer' (plastic) types. When paying bills with D100,000, D200,000 and D500,000 notes deliberately note the number of the bill - and let the waiter or front desk see you doing it - some fraud artists take your high value money and then return, with a replacement forged version, and say they can't accept it as it is not real.

Please login to add a reply

You need to be a Travelfish member to be able to add a reply to this post. Please use the button below to log in. After logging in you'll be returned to this page automatically to add your post. Not a member? Join up here.